Abstract: A software program or a set of software tools allows end user quality of experience to be quantified and translated into network conditions required to achieve that end user quality of experience. By focusing on the Quality of Experience (QoE) for the applications that will use the network rather than the traditional bottom up approach, and then looking to design the network based on those end user requirements, the network may be designed and/or operated to achieve a high quality of experience. The program and tools may be used at different phases of the networking cycle, including design, planning, deployment, and operational phases, to allow the QoE requirements to be obtained while optimizing network cost and utilization. A QoE server may be implemented off line and used for network design/planning, or may be included on the network to monitor the network and control operation of the network to achieve the intended QoE.

Abstract: A communications system includes a network that is coupled to a number of terminals, at least some of which are capable of audio or other forms of real-time interactive data communications over the network. Each of the terminals includes a network adapter that is capable of detecting a collision with another terminal on the network. If a collision is detected, transmission of a data frame is aborted, and a backoff time delay is selected. The backoff time delay is selected from a group of delay periods that vary at a rate different than exponentially with a number of collisions. The group of one or more delay periods can contain delay periods that increase linearly with the number of collisions, delay periods that increase according to some power of n, where n is the number of collisions, or a delay period that is selected at random based on a predetermined mean backoff delay.

Abstract: An innovative service modeling framework is provided that can be used to analyze and assess the business opportunities of existing and emerging telecommunication services. This forecasting model/tool provides an approach to assess current and future markets—thus lowering investment risks, ensuring better decisions and subsequently having a greater impact. The core of the framework relies on a novel forecasting model (based on the theory of diffusion or S-curves) that departs from typical models used by popular research firms. The enhanced diffusion model relies on multi-dimensional input parameters and can take into account the impact of disruptions, regulations, network readiness, user utility and other dynamics. The input parameters are modeled as a series of vectors and are used to represent perturbations to the model. These influence the behavior of the adoption rate process in more realistic way.

Abstract: A communications system includes a network that is coupled to a number of terminals, at least some of which are capable of audio or other forms of real-time interactive data communications over the network. Each of the terminals includes a network adapter that is capable of detecting a collision with another terminal on the network. If a collision is detected, transmission of a data frame is aborted, and a backoff time delay is selected. The backoff time delay is selected from a group of delay periods that vary at a rate different than exponentially with a number of collisions. The group of one or more delay periods can contain delay periods that increase linearly with the number of collisions, delay periods that increase according to some power of n, where n is the number of collisions, or a delay period that is selected at random based on a predetermined mean backoff delay.

Abstract: A communications packet network is planned by the use of a planning tool. The tool comprises an input for inputting requirements of the network; and an input for determining factors which effect the passage of packet based data through the network. A modelling module determines the performance of the network based on the requirements and factors. The performance of model is compared with that of an objective comparison model. A feedback mechanism iteratively adjusts the input factors to improve the performance and maintain the network requirements. When the desired performance level is achieved, a plan of the network is output from the planning tool.

Abstract: In a scheme for accessing a wireless network, a backoff delay time period representing a duration of time that is to elapse before a station is permitted to attempt a retransmission is selected from a group of delay periods. The group of delay periods grows at a rate that is less than exponentially (e.g. linearly) based on the number of attempted retransmissions. Selection of the backoff delay time period may entail random selection of an integer N from a contention window and multiplication of N by a slot time duration. The contention window may be a range of integers [0, W-1]. The contention window size W may be initialized to a predetermined minimum value upon a first attempted transmission and may be capped at a predetermined maximum value. Average backoff delay may be reduced in comparison to a binary exponential backoff approach.

Abstract: An optical core node that includes optical switching planes interfaces, at input, with multi-channel input links and, at output, with multi-channel output links. The number of channels per link can differ significantly among the links, necessitating that the input (output) links have different connection patterns to the switching planes. Such an optical core node requires new methods of assigning an incoming wavelength channel to one of the optical switching planes. The assignment of the channels of input and output links to input and output ports is established in a manner that increases input-output connectivity and, hence, throughput. Additionally, the networks that may be formed with such optical core nodes require new routing methods. A preferred method of selecting a path through the core node favors switching planes connecting to a small number of links. In a time-division-multiplexing (TDM) mode, the method of path selection is complemented by temporal packing of TDM frames.

Abstract: A communications packet network is planned by the use of a planning tool. The tool comprises an input for inputting requirements of the network; and an input for determining factors which effect the passage of packet based data through the network. A modelling module determines the performance of the network based on the requirements and factors. The performance of model is compared with that of an objective comparison model. A feedback mechanism iteratively adjusts the input factors to improve the performance and maintain the network requirements. When the desired performance level is achieved, a plan of the network is output from the planning tool.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a contextual gesture interface for electronic devices. The contextual gesture interface activates a function corresponding to the characteristics of an object making contact with a display. The system may determine the time period of the contact as well as the size of the contact. The functions may include a wide array of navigation tools or editing tools. The contextual gesture interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: A multi-service user interface that facilitates access to and exchange of information between two or more people when communicating remotely over a broadband network. The interface allows users to move data on a display using gesture motions. Each gesture motion corresponds to a predetermined function. In addition, the interface includes visible reactive zones where a user can move data to implement a specific activity such as, sending a message to another person over the network or removing certain data from the display.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a touch-responsive graphical user interface for electronic devices. The graphical user interface determines a pointer size of the object making contact with a display and activates a function corresponding to the pointer size. The graphical user interface may invoke a wide array of functions such as a navigation tool, draw function, an erase function, or a drag function. The graphical user interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: A reduced-power method of updating an LCD display. LCD displays are refreshed line by line. Lines of the display which do not need to be updated, i.e. which are blank, are refreshed with less power than lines which require updating. This is achieved by latching display data to the blank lines for only a very short period of time.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically recalibrating a resistive touch screen. The resistance of a resistive touch screen layer is subject to change over time, while the resistance of silver bus bars connecting the resistive touch screen layer to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) elements is not. Calibration tables are used to convert an ADC count representing a voltage across the entire touch screen to an ADC count representing a percentage drop across the touch screen layer only. A new calibration table is generated periodically by measuring the current through the touch screen and using this to determine a new voltage drop across the touch screen layer only.

Abstract: An LCD with automatic contrast control is provided. A light sensor is mounted over a test pixel which is separate form the main viewing area of the LCD for taking luminance measurements for "ON", "OFF", and "surround" pixel states for a series of candidate operating voltages. The pixel contrast ratio and background contrast ratio are computed for each candidate voltage and the voltage resulting in the best contrast is selected as the operating voltage for the entire LCD.

Abstract: A general purpose Liquid Crystal Display controller apparatus for controlling an LCD driver is operable to control an LCD having a plurality of individually addressable pixels arranged in lines. The apparatus has a pixel group generator for generating a pixel group for addressing respective groups of pixels on the lines of the LCD and a display buffer for storing image codes representing a desired image to be displayed on the LCD, the image codes being accessed in response to respective pixel groups. An identifier is provided for identifying each of the image codes as being a direct pixel group control code or a character addressing code and a character table is provided for storing character sub-line codes for controlling pixels in an addressed group, the character sub-line codes being accessed in response to the character addressing codes.